Stackable container and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a container ( 2 ) comprising a base ( 4 ) for storing and displaying one or more items ( 42 ), and a cover ( 22 ), wherein the container ( 2 ) is configurable between a closed position in which the base ( 4 ) is covered by the cover ( 22 ) and an open position in which at least one item is ( 42 ) visible and removable from the base ( 4 ), in use, and wherein at least one of the cover ( 22 ) and the base ( 4 ) comprises an attachment point or area on a surface thereof, for connecting a base ( 4 ) or cover ( 22 ) of a second container ( 2 ) to the cover ( 22 ) or base ( 4 ), in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 of International Application No.PCT/IB2014/001858, filed Aug. 28, 2014, which claims priority to GreatBritain Application No. 1315507.2, filed Aug. 30, 2013, both of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to containers, in particular to containershaving bases and covers which can be stacked on top of one another todisplay items within the base. The disclosure also relates to displaysincluding stackable containers and methods of stacking containers todisplay items located therein.

BACKGROUND

It is desirable to store items, such as packaged food items in outercontainers known as “shelf-ready packaging” (“SRP”) which consists of abase for storing the items, and a cover or lid which can be removed, andthe base located on a retail shelf or stand, to display the now visibleitems. A common form of shelf-ready packaging is formed of an integralbase and cover, separable by a line of perforations extendingtherebetween. In use items are deposited through an opening in the baseor cover, which is then sealed, and the sealed container transportedready for use. When it is desired to display the items, an operatorremoves the cover by tearing the cover away from the base at the line ofperforations. The lid is generally discarded and the base placed on ashelf. This format is generally wasteful of material and the base andproducts are not displayed at an optimal viewing angle on a generallyhorizontal shelf.

In other known shelf-ready packaging the cover may be removed andupturned, then the base inserted into the upturned cover, to provide adurable stand, but again optimal viewing of the items within the base isnot generally achieved.

In yet other known embodiments of shelf-ready packaging, the lid of acontainer may be removed from the base and inserted under the base toform a stand on which the base sits. In some examples of this type ofSRP, the lid may include an inclined top surface between parallel walls,which forms an inclined surface on which the base sits, in order todisplay items within the base at a more effective angle to potentialcustomers.

None of the prior art shelf-ready packaging enables vertical stacking ofmultiple containers of the same type, nor do they allow for display ofdifferent items in different bases in a vertical manner and in a mannerin which all bases can be displayed for optimal viewing of the contentsof each base by a potential customer.

It would therefore be advantageous to mitigate or overcome at least oneof the problems of the prior art described above, or any other problemof vertical display of multiple shelf-ready packaging containers.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect there is provided a container including abase for storing and displaying one or more items, and a cover, whereinthe container is configurable between a closed position in which thebase is covered by the cover, and an open position in which at least oneitem is visible and removable from the base, in use, and wherein atleast one of the cover and the base includes an attachment point or areaon a surface thereof, for detachably connecting a base or cover of asecond container to the cover or base, in use.

The container of the first aspect therefore provides the ability for twoor more containers to be stacked on top of each other in a stableconfiguration, whilst at least one item is visible and removable fromeach container.

The base may include a bottom, and one or more boundary walls such asfront, rear and side walls, and may be of any suitable cross-sectionalshape, such as square, rectangular, circular, oval, rectangularpolygonal, triangular or the like, for example. The base may be formedfrom a single blank or a plurality of connected blanks.

The cover may include a top surface which may include one or moreboundary walls pendent therefrom. The walls may include front, rear andside walls, which may correspond to the front, rear and side walls ofthe base. The walls of the cover may overhang the walls of the base, inuse, when the cover is in the closed position. The front wall may beshorter that the rear wall, thus enabling the cover to be placedinclined with respect to an surface on which it is rested, in use.

In some embodiments at least one wall of the base include a cut-outportion or slot, arranged in use to receive at least one wall of thecover, when the cover is in the open position. In some embodimentsopposite side walls of the base may include cut-out portions or slots,for receiving a wall, preferably the front wall, of the cover. In thisway the cover may be lifted from the base, moved or slid backwards alongthe base and the wall of the cover may be at least partially slottedinto the cut-outs or slots of the base, such that at least a portion ofthe interior of the base exposed, while the cover masks any remainingportion, and overhangs or protrudes from the base at the rear thereof.

A surface of the cover or base may include the attachment point or areafor detachably connecting a base of a second container, in use. Thesurface may be an upper surface, which may include one or moreprotrusions extending upwardly or outwardly, against which a wall of thebase may abut, in use. There may be protrusions extending from oppositeedges of the upper surface of the cover or base, arranged to secure thesecond base therebetween. There may be further protrusions extendingfrom one or more other edges. In some embodiments there may be aprotrusion extending upwardly from the front or rear wall or vertex ofthe cover in addition to protrusions extending from opposite side wallsor vertices. This configuration is especially useful if the top surfaceof the cover is inclined with respect to a surface on which it isrested, in use, thereby preventing a second base detachably connected tothe cover from slipping off the cover.

The front wall of the base may include a cut-out portion, which mayassist a user in removing an item therefrom, in use. The cover mayinclude a front wall which overhangs and masks the cut-out portion ofthe base front wall, when the cover is in the closed position.

The upper surface of the cover may include substantially verticallypendent walls extending therefrom. The cover may include spaced apartand parallel side walls with a short end and a long end which creates aninclined upper surface with respect to the parallel side walls, andwhich upper surface is inclined when the side walls are rested on asurface, with respect to that surface.

In this way when a base is detachably connected to the upper surface ofthe cover, it may be inclined to ensure maximum visibility of the oreach visible item therein.

In some embodiments the bottom of the base may include an attachmentpoint or area in an alternative to, or additional to the attachmentpoint or area of the cover. The attachment point or area of the bottomsurface of the base may include one or more protrusions pendenttherefrom, and may be as described for the protrusions of the cover orbase hereinabove. The attachment point or area of the base and cover orthe attachment point or area on the upper surface of a first base andthe bottom surface of a second base may include two parts of a fasteningelement, arranged to detachably connect the base and cover, or a firstbase and second base, together and may include opposite parts of aninter-locking or abutting element. In some embodiments one of the baseor cover may include a male attachment member or area and the other ofthe cover or base may include a female attachment member, which arearranged to interlock. The male member may be a tab or protrusionarranged to be inserted into a female member in the form of a slot orgroove. In some embodiments there may be a plurality of male attachmentmembers and a plurality of females attachment members.

According to a second aspect there is provided a container of the firstaspect, including one or more items located in the base. There may be aplurality of items. The or each item may be a food product which mayinclude its own secondary packaging. The food product may be aconfectionery or bakery product, which may be selected from a chocolateproduct, chewing gum, biscuits, cookies, cakes, candy or the like, forexample. In some embodiments the items are chocolate bars or tablets,boxes or cartons of chocolate products, packets of cookies or packets ofchewing gum.

According to a third aspect there is provided a display including atleast two containers including a base for locating items to be displayedand a cover, movable from a closed position to an open position in whichat least one item is visible and removable from the base, the displayincluding a base including a cover in the open position, and a secondbase mounted on a surface of the cover.

The containers may be as described for the first or second aspects.

There may be at least one further cover and base stacked on top of thesecond base.

Each container is therefore stacked with its cover in the open position,such that at least a portion of each base is visible and at least oneitem located in each base is visible and removable.

According to a fourth aspect there is provided a display including atleast two containers including a base for locating at least one itemthere in, the base including an upper surface including at least asecurement point or area for securing a further base on the surface, thedisplay including a first base on which is secured a second base in aposition on the upper surface such that at least one item is visible andremovable from the first base beneath the second base.

Each container and base may be as described for the first or secondaspects.

In some embodiments the second base is secured to the upper surface ofthe first base off-set position, such that at least a portion of theinterior of first base is not covered by the second base, and in someembodiments the second base may extend from or overhang at least oneside or wall of the first base.

There may be at least one further base stacked on top of the secondbase.

In the fourth aspect each container may include a base having anintegral cover which is removed prior to stacking another base, thecover including at least a portion of the upper surface of the base,such that after removal of the cover, at least a portion of the uppersurface remains, and a second base is securable thereto. The cover mayalso form part of at least one wall of the base, such as at least partof a front wall. In such an embodiment removal of the cover removes aportion of the (front) wall and upper surface, to expose any itemslocated within the base, and enable viewing and removal by a user, whena second base is mounted on the upper surface.

The securement point or area may include protrusions extending from theupper surface which may include protruding flaps, bosses, tabs, lips orwalls onto which, or between which the second base is secured. In someembodiments each base may include a second securement point or area, ona lower surface thereof such as a bottom surface, cooperable with thesecurement point or area of the upper surface. In this way thesecurement areas or points of the upper and lower surfaces may cooperateto secure a second base on the upper surface of the first base. Thesecurement area or point of the lower surface may include a slot oraperture arranged to receive a corresponding protrusion of the uppersurface of the first base, or vice versa.

The securement points or areas of the first and second bases may includetwo parts of a fastening element, arranged to detachably connect thebases together, and may include opposite parts of an inter-locking orabutting element.

The base of any of the aspects may include means to connect an item oritems located therein in a desired position. There may be a protrusionextending into the base, arranged to present the or each item in aninclined orientation with respect to the bottom of the base. The basemay include means to push the or each item towards an end of the base,such as the front wall. The pusher may include a resilient biasing meanssuch as a spring, for example. In use the pusher may ensure that an itemor items is always located in the portion of the interior of the basethat is visible when the cover is in the open position.

The base and cover may be formed from cartonboard, plastics, metal orany combination thereof, for example.

According to a fifth aspect there is provided a method of stacking aplurality of containers each including a base for locating at least oneitem and a cover moveable between a closed position and an open positionin which at least one item is visible and removable from the base, themethod including the steps of:

-   -   a) providing at least two containers;    -   b) mounting a first base to a surface of a first cover; and        either    -   c) mounting a second base to a surface of a second cover,        followed by mounting the second cover in the open position on        the first base; or    -   d) mounting a second cover in the open position on the first        base and mounting a second base to an upper surface of the        second cover.

Further containers may be stacked by separating or moving the covers andbases of said further containers and repeating steps c) or d) using thesaid further covers and bases.

The containers may be as described for the first or second aspects, andin some embodiments may include an attachment point or region on one orboth of the cover and base, for detachably connecting the base andcovers in use, as described above.

The bases may include one or more items located within the bases, itemsmay be as described hereinabove.

According to a sixth aspect there is provided a method of stacking aplurality of containers of the first or second aspect, including thesteps of:

-   -   a) providing at least first and second containers; and    -   b) connecting the base of the second container on a surface of        the cover of the first container in the open position;

The connection in step b), may be by way of appropriate attachmentpoints or regions, such as protrusions, slots and cut-outs, as describedhereinabove.

The method may include a step of moving the cover of the secondcontainer from the closed to the open position before or after step b).

The method may include the step of detaching the cover of the secondcontainer before or after step b) and optionally mounting the first baseon the cover of the second container. In this way the first base may bemounted on a detached cover in order to ensure optimal display angle ofthe interior of be first base, and any further bases stacked thereon.

According to a seventh aspect there is provided a method of stacking aplurality of containers of the first or second aspects, including thesteps of:

-   -   a) providing at least two containers;    -   b) stacking from bottom to top of the stack, at least a base, a        cover in the open position and another base.        Step b) may include stacking, from bottom to top of the stack,        at least a cover, a base, a cover in the open position and        another base.

There may be a further sequential stacking of covers in the openposition and bases, on top of the stack.

According to an eighth aspect there is provided a display of the thirdor fourth aspect provided by the methods of the fifth, sixth or seventhaspect.

The covers of the containers used in the methods of the fifth, sixth andseventh aspects may include a top surface including parallel pendentspaced apart walls having a shorter end and a longer end, thus ensuringa base attached on the top surface is inclined when a cover is used asthe bottom component of a display. This configuration enables moreeffective display of items visible in the interior of the base.

According to an eighth aspect there is provided a method of creating adisplay of the fourth aspect, the method including the steps of:

-   -   a) providing at least two containers described for the fourth        aspect each including a base and a cover;    -   b) removing the cover from the base of the first container;    -   c) securing a second base to an upper surface of the first base        by way of the or each securement point or area of the upper        surface, and optionally    -   d) removing the cover from the second base.

Step c) may include securing the second base in an off-set position withrespect to the first base, such that the second base extends from oroverhangs the first base.

The second base may include a securement point or area on a lowersurface thereof, arranged to cooperate with the securement point of areaof the upper surface of the first base, as described hereinabove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the various aspects will now be described by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a packaging blank for a base of a first embodiment of acontainer;

FIG. 2 is a packaging blank for a cover of the first embodiment ofcontainer.

FIG. 3 shows the container of the first embodiment in a full closedconfiguration;

FIG. 4 shows the container of the first embodiment with a connectedcover the open position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two bases and two covers of thecontainer defined by the blanks of FIGS. 1 and 2 stacked vertically;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a base of a second embodiment of acontainer;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cover of the second embodiment of acontainer;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the base and cover of the second embodimentshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 connected together;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a container in aclosed configuration.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 9 in an openconfiguration;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of two bases of the container of FIG. 10,stacked to form a display;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of two bases of the container of FIG. 10,stacked off-set with respect to each other, to form a display;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a container in aclosed configuration;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 13 in an openconfiguration;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of two containers of FIG. 13, stacked toform a display;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a container in aclosed configuration;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an upturned cover of the container ofFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the base of the container of FIG. 16stacked on the up-turned cover of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a second base mounted on the stack ofFIG. 18;

FIG. 20A is a perspective view from the above of a sixth embodiment of acontainer;

FIG. 20B is a perspective view from below of the container of FIG. 20A

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 20A with thecover removed; and

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 21 with a secondbase mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 to 3 a first embodiment of a container (2)includes a base (4) and a cover (22). The base (4) includes a front wall(6), rear wall (10) and left and right side walls (12, 14). The cover(22) includes an upper surface (24) from which hang a front wall (26),rear wall (30) and left and right side walls (32 and 34). FIGS. 1 and 2show the base (4) and cover (22) respectively as blanks, in an unfoldedconfiguration, whereas the base (4) and cover (22) shown in FIG. 3 arein a fully folded configuration.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base (4) includes bottom wall flaps (16, 16′,16″, 16′″), which together form a bottom wall of the base (4). The frontwall (6) of the base (4) also includes a cut-out portion (8), which inuse assists in enabling visibility and removal of items from within thebase (4).

The base (4) includes a side flap (18) pending from the right wall (12),which is folded in use and adhered to the inside of the back wall (10)in order to retain the base (4) in its folded configuration.

The left and right side walls (12, 14) include cut-out slots (20, 20′)tiding from the upper edge thereof, approximately one third of the wayback from the front wall (6).

The blank of the base (4), in use is folded to form a generallytray-like base, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The cover (22) includes protruding flaps (36 and 38) which extendupwardly, in use, from the upper surface (24) at the vertices of theleft and right side walls (32,34). The vertex between the upper surface(24) and the front wall (26) also includes a protruding flap (40), whichis use extends upwardly from the vertex between the front wall (26) andupper surface (24). The flaps (36, 38 and 40) form attachment regions,for detachably connecting a base on the upper surface (24), andpreventing slippage of said base from the upper surface (24), in use.

The front wall (26) and rear wall (30) of the cover (22) include sideflaps (27, 27′ and 31, 31′) respectively, which in use are adhered tothe inside of the left and right side walls (32, 34), in order to retainthe cover in a folded configuration in use.

The blank of the cover (22), as shown in FIG. 2 is folded to produce thetray-like cover (22) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The upper surface (24)of the cover (22) is slightly wider than the width of the front wall (6)and rear wall (10) of the base (4), so that in use, when the cover isplaced on top of the base (4), the front wall (26), rear wall (30) andleft and right side walls (32, 34) of the cover (22) hang down over thefront wall (6), rear wall (10) and left and right side walls (12, 14) ofthe base (4), covering any items located within the base (4), in use.This configuration is shown in FIG. 3, and the cover is in a closedposition.

Use of the container (2) formed by the blank base (4) and blank cover(22) now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

The base (4) and cover (22) are formed from their respective blanksshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The base (4) is formed by folding the front wall(6), rear wall (10) and left and right side walls (12, 14) about theirrespective fold lines, and adhering the bottom wall flaps (16, 16′, 16″,16′″) together, in addition to adhering side wall flap (18) to theinside of the rear wall (10). This creates the tray like base shown inFIGS. 3 to 5.

Likewise, the cover (22) is formed from the blank shown in FIG. 2 byfolding the front wall (26) rear wall (30) and left and right side walls(32, 34) about their respective fold lines, then adhering the rear wallflaps (31, 31′) and front wall flaps (27, 27′) to the inside of the leftand right side walls (32, 34), producing a tray like cover as shown inFIGS. 3 to 5.

In use, items such as food products may be placed in the interior of thebase (4). As shown in FIG. 5, confectionery items (42) in secondarypackaging are placed in the interior of the base (4) and the cover (22)is secured onto the base (4) in order to substantially completely coverthe confectionery items (42). In this position, the cover is fullyclosed, and the container (2) is suitable for transport and storage to adesired location, such as a retail establishment.

When it is desired to display the items located within the base (4), thecover (22) may be removed to completely uncover the base (4), to displayall of the items.

However, in many instances it is desired to display items from multiplebases of containers in a small space in a retail establishment, and inthat case, the container (2) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 can beused to form vertical stacks of displayed items as follows.

As shown in FIG. 4, firstly the cover (22) of a first container (2) canbe moved from the fully closed position (shown in FIG. 3) to an openposition (shown in FIG. 4), wherein the front wall (26) of the cover(22) is slotted into the cut-out slots (20, 20′) of the base (4). Thisprovides a configuration as shown in FIG. 4, in which items (42) locatedwithin the base (4) are visible and withdrawable by a potential buyer.The cut-out portion (8) of the base (4) and the cut-out portion (28) ofthe cover (22) increase the visible and open area from which an item(42) may be drawn. In some uses of the container (2), this open positionis all that is required, and the container (2) can be placed on a retailshelf or other surface in order to present items (42) to a potentialbuyer.

Due to the configuration of the cover (22) having a shorter front wall(28) than rear wall (30), and the length of the slots (20, 20′) on thefront wall (6) of the base (4), the upper surface of the cover (24) liesparallel with the bottom wall (16, 16′, 16″, 16′″) of the base (4) inthe open position.

In other embodiments, especially in retail environments with a smallamount of space, or limited shelving, it is desirable to verticallystack products, in order to present the maximum number of items in aminimal area. In these environments, the container (2) can be combinedwith another container (102) as shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, thecover (22) of the container (2) is firstly fully separated from the base(4). The cover (22) is then placed on a surface, and the base (4)detachably connected to the upper surface (24) of the cover (22), suchthat the protruding flaps (36, 38 and 40) abut and contain the base (4).As the front wall (26) of the cover (22) is shorter than the rear wall(30), the upper surface (24) is presented at a downwardly sloppinginclined angle respective to the surface on which it rests. This has theeffect of inclining the base (4) at a downward angle, such the maximumvisibility of items (42) within the base (4) is presented to a potentialbuyer. The cut-out flaps (36, 38 and 40) of the cover (22) prevent thebase (4) from slipping downwardly and off the cover (22).

A second container (102) is then opened by separating the cover (122)from the base (104). The cover (122) is identical to the cover (22), andincludes a front wall (126) side walls (134, 136) a rear wall (130) andan upper surface (124), from which upwardly extend flaps (136, 138 and140). The front wall (126) includes a cut-out portion (128). The base(104) is identical to the base (4) and includes a front wall (106) rearwall (110) left and right side walls (112 and 114). The front wall (106)includes a cut-out portion (108), and the left and right side walls(112, 114) include cut-out slots (120, 120′).

The second cover (122) is connected to the first base (4) such that thefront wall (126) of the second cover (122) slots into the cut-out slots(20, 20′) of the first base (4) and due to the configuration of theshort front wall (126) and long rear wall (130), the upper surface (124)lies parallel with the bottom wall (16, 16′, 16″ and 16′″) of the firstbase (4) and is thus at the same inclined angle. Is this way, the firstbase (4) is in the open position, in which items (42) are visible andremovable by a potential buyer, through the open space defined betweenthe cut-out portion (8) of the base (4) and the cut-out portion (128) ofthe cover (122).

The second base (104) is then detachably connected to the upper surface(124) of the second cover (122) in the same manner as the base (4) isdetachably connected to the upper surface of the cover (22). It is alsoat the same inclined angle as the base (4) and second cover (122). Thesecond base (104) is prevented from slipping from the second cover (122)by abutment with the protruding flaps (136, 138 and 140). The base (4)does not include a cover located thereon, and therefore the items (142)within the base (104) are fully visible and removable by potentialbuyer.

It can be seen in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, items from multiplecontainers may be displayed together in a stacked vertical fashion,removing the need for individual floor or shelf space area for each base(104), whilst ensuring that items located within the bases are visibleand removable in a convenient manner by potential buyers.

In an alternative embodiment to that shown in FIG. 5, the flaps (38, 40)of the first cover (22) and the flaps (136, 138 and 140) of the secondcover (22) may be omitted, and the bases (4) and (104) detachablyconnected to the upper surfaces of the covers (22, 122) by frictionalone. The weight of any items in the upper base may prevent the upperbase from slipping down the inclined surface of the cover in the openposition. In other embodiments, the protruding flaps of the covers maybe replaced with any suitable connection means and/or the bottom wallsof the bases may include slots into which the protruding flaps project,to securely connect the covers and bases together.

Turning now to FIGS. 6 to 8, in a second embodiment of a container (202)a base (204) includes a front wall (206) with a cut-out portion (208), arear wall (210) left and right side walls (212, 214) and a bottom wall(216), defining a tray. The left and right side walls (212, 214) includecut-out slots (220, 220′). The base includes an area for detachablyconnecting the base (204) to a corresponding cover (222), in the form offlaps pendent therefrom, forming a generally rectangular box (244). Acover (222) includes a front wall (226) with a cut-out portion (228), arear wall (210) and left and right side walls (234, 236) bounding anupper surface (224). On the upper surface (224) are flaps defining agenerally rectangular box (246) which serve as the correspondingattachment region (244) of the base (204). The attachment region (246)of the cover (222) is located extending from the wall (226) along theupper surface (224), to approximately half way along the upper surface(224). The attachment portion (224) of the base (204) extends from therear wall (210) towards to front wall (206) approximately half thelength of the bottom wall (216). In this way, when the base (204) islocated on top of the upper surface (224) of the cover (222), thecorresponding attachment portions (244) and (246) abut, forming twohalves of a locking element in order to prevent the base (204) slippingfrom the upper surface (224) of the cover (222). Therefore, in thisembodiment there are corresponding locking and mating attachment regionson both the base (204) and cover (222). Use of the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6-8 is substantially identical to that described from FIGS. 1-5,and further covers (222) and bases (204) may be stacked accordingly.

We refer now to FIGS. 9 to 12. In a third embodiment of a container(302) a base (304) includes a front wall (306) a rear wall (310) andleft and right side walls (314, 312) and a bottom wall (316), defining atray. The left and right side walls (312, 314) include cut-out slots(360, 360′) at the base thereof. The cut-out slots (360, 360′) formsecurement means for securing the base (304) to an upper surface of asecond base, in use. The upper surface (324) of the base (304) includesupwardly extending peripheral flaps in the form of left (366) and right(336′) side flaps, and a split rear wall flap (340, 340′), extendingalong the left, right and rear edges of the upper surface (324)respectively. The container (320) also includes a cover (322), integralwith the base (304). The cover includes a front surface (350), uppersurface (350′) and left and right side surfaces (350″ and 350′″). Thecover (322) is integrally connected with the base (304) via perforations(352, 352′). The front wall (350) of the cover (322) includes a cut-outslot (370), arranged in use to provide an aperture for a user to inserthis or her fingers, in order to remove the cover.

In use, the cover (322) is removed by a user inserting his or herfingers into the slot (370) in the front wall (350), and tearing thecover (322) away from the base (304) via the perforation lines (352,352′). The upper surface of the cover (350′) extends only part way alongthe upper surface of the container, to join the upper surface (324) ofthe base (304). Therefore, when the cover (322) is removed, the baseretains the upper surface (324), which forms the upper surface of theopen container (302). This configuration is shown in FIG. 10, in whichthe container is in an open position with the cover fully removed. Inthis configuration, the upper surface (324) of the base (304) retains aportion of its upwardly extending flaps (336, 336′, 340, 340′). Theembodiment of the container (302) shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may be used inat least two ways.

FIG. 11 illustrates a first configuration of a stack of two containers(302). In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, a first base (304) isprovided with the cover (322) fully removed.

A second base (404) including front wall (406) base (416) left and rightside walls (412, 414), upper surface (424) and cut-out slots (460)located extending from the bottom of left and right side walls (412,414). The upper surface (424) of the second base (404) also includesupwardly extending flaps (436, 436′, 440 and 440′), which components areidentical to those of the first base (304). The second base is mountedsecurely on the upper surface (324) of the first base (304) such thatthe left and right side walls (412, 414) are located within the left andright side walls (312, 314) of the first base (304), and the front wall(406) of the second base (404) overhangs the interior of the first base(304) formed by the removal of the first cover (324). In thisconfiguration, items located within each base (304, 404) are visible,and can removed by a user. Further bases may be stacked on top of thestacked shown in FIG. 11 by repeating the removal of a cover of eachfurther base, and mounting of each further base on the upper surface ofthe preceding base as described above.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative configuration of a stack of two bases (304,404) to that shown in FIG. 11. In this configuration, the second base(404) is secured offset with respect to the first base (304), such thatthe rear of the second base (404) overhangs and extends from the rear ofthe first base (304). This is achieved by coupling the cut-out slots(460) at the bottom of the left and right side walls (412, 414) of thesecond base (404), with the upwardly extending flaps (340, 340′) of thelower base (304). In this configuration the front wall (406) of theupper base (404) is offset rearwardly of the front wall (306) of thelower base (304), thereby giving more visibility and room to remove anitem located within the interior of the lower base (304). Further basesmay be mounted offset on the stack of two bases in a similar manner.

We refer now to FIGS. 13-15, which illustrate a fourth embodiment of acontainer of the invention and its use in creating a display of stackedcontainers. The container (502) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-15includes a base (504) having front (506), left (512), right (514) andrear (510) walls, as well as an upper surface (524). The base (504) isformed with an integral cover (522) which includes a front wall (550),upper surface (550′) and left and right side walls (550″) connected tothe base (504) via perforations (552, 552′). The perforations extendfrom the junction between the side walls of the cover and base, and theupper surfaces of the cover and base, cumulating in a hinge (580)located at the junction between the upper surface (524) of the base(504), and the upper surface (550′) of the cover (522). In this way, thecover can be torn from the base via the perforations (552, 552′) androtated about the hinge (580). The front wall (550) of the cover (522)includes a cut-out slot (570) to enable a user to insert his or herfingers into the container (502) in order to initiate tearing of theperforations (552, 552′).

In use, a user moves the cover (522) from a closed position to an openposition in which an item located in the base (504) is visible andremovable by the user, by inserting his or her finger into the slot(570), and ripping and rotating the cover (522) about the perforations(552, 552′) and the hinge (580). The cover (522) is rotated until theupper surface (550′) has been rotated substantially 180°, until it restson a portion of the upper surface (524) of the base (504), as shown inFIG. 14. In this configuration, the front wall (550) and side walls(550, 550″, 550′″) extend upwardly from the base (504) and the innersurface of the upper surface (550′) of the cover (522). This creates asecurement area defined by the walls of the cover (550, 550′ 550″,550′″) onto which a second base may be secured. As shown in FIG. 15, asecond base (614) may then be secured to the cover (522) of the firstcontainer (502) to create a display of stacked containers. The secondbase (614) may have previously been configured such that its cover (622)has been moved from the closed to the open position by rotating thecover (622) about its hinge (680) as described herein above for thefirst container (502). This configuration is shown in FIG. 15. In FIG.15, it can be seen that due to the fact that the first cover (522)extends rearwardly from the upper surface (524) of the base (504), thesecured second base (614) also extends rearwardly with respect to thefirst base (504), such that its front wall (606) is offset from thefront wall (506) of the first base (504). In this way, it is easier fora user to view and remove an item from both the first base (504) and thesecond base (604).

We turn now to FIGS. 16 to 19 which illustrate a fifth embodiment of acontainer and display. The container (702) includes a base (704) and acover (722). The base (704) includes a front wall (710), rear wall(726), left and right side walls (712, 714) and a bottom (716). The leftand right side walls (712, 714) include upwardly extending fins (794,794′) which, in the closed container (702) are located within andabutting the interior of the cover (722). The bottom edge of the leftand right side wall (712, 714) of the base (704) include cut out slots(790) which define an aperture (792) approximately midway between thefront (726) and rear (710) walls.

The cover (722) includes front wall (726), rear wall (730), left andright side wall (732, 734) and an upper surface (724). Extending fromthe front wall (726) is a flap (727) so the user may grasp the flap(727) in order to manipulate the cover in use. Extending from the leftand right side wall (732, 734) are flaps (782, 782′). The flaps (782,782′) are arranged to fit into the cut outs slots (790) at the bottom ofthe side walls (712, 714) of a base (704), in use. The container (702)in the closed configuration includes a base (704) completely covered bythe cover (722), and with the flaps (782, 782′) of the cover (722)extending within the region around the slots (786) of the base (704).Likewise, the protruding flaps (794, 794′) extend within the interior ofthe container (702), in the region of the slots (780) of the cover(722), as shown in FIG. 16.

In use, the cover (722) is removed from the base (704) and the coverupturned and rested on a surface as shown in FIG. 17. In thisconfiguration the flaps (782, 782′) are extending upwardly from thewalls (732, 734) of the cover (722). The base (704) is then securelymounted on the upturned cover (722) which is shown in FIG. 18, byaligning the flaps (782, 782′) of the cover (722) with the cut out slots(790) of the base, such that the flaps (782, 782′) enter the cut outslots (790), to secure the base (704) on the cover (722). In thisconfiguration, the interior of the base (704) is open, and items locatedin the base (704) are visible removable by user. The base is inclined atan angle to the surface that the cover (722) rests upon due to the factthat the front wall (726) and rear wall (730) of the cover are ofunequal heights, which ensures that the side walls (732, 734) provide aninclined angle onto which the base (704) is securely mounted; resultingin the base (704) inclining forwardly from the surface on which thecover (722) is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 19 a second base (804) maybe mounted on the first base(704), in a similar manner to the mounting of the first base (704) tothe cover (722). The upwardly pending flaps (794, 794′) are arranged tocooperate with the slots (890) in the bottom of the side walls (912,914) of the second base (804), in order to securely mount the secondbase (804) to the first base (704). As the flaps (794, 794′) are locatedrearwardly on the side walls (712, 714), the second base (804) ismounted offset from the first base (704), such that the rear wall (810)of the second base (804) extends rearwardly from the first base (704)this configuration is shown in FIG. 19, where it can be seen in thisconfiguration items located in the first base (704) are visible andremovable from the first base (704), due to the offset location of thesecond base (804). Further bases may be connected in a similar manner toincrease the stack height.

We refer now to FIGS. 20A-22, which illustrate a sixth embodiment of acontainer and display. The container (902) is similar to that describedfor the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9-12. The container (902) includes abase (904) with a front wall (906), rear wall (910) and left and rightside walls (912, 914) and upper surface (924) extending from the rearwall (910) part way along the left and right walls (912, 914). Thecontainer (902) includes an integral cover (922) including a front wall(950), upper surface (950′) and left and right side walls (950″), which,in the container's closed position completely covers the interior of thebase (904). The front wall (950) of the cover (922) includes a cut outslot (970) for a user to insert his or her fingers in order to enable toremoval of the cover (922) in use. The cover is connected to the base(904) via perforations (952) and maybe completely removed via theperforations.

The upper surface (924) of the base (904) includes six circular bossesprotruding upwardly therefrom (936A-936F). Conversely, the coverincludes six circular cut out portions on the upper surface (950′)corresponding in size to the bosses (936A-936F) of the upper surface(924) of the base (902). The cover is oriented on the base (902) suchthat the circular cut outs of the cover (922) are in register with thebosses (936A-936F) of the base (902), such that the bosses protrudetherefrom.

The base (902), on its bottom surface (916) includes 8 cut-out circularportions (938A-938H) as shown in FIG. 20B. The circular cut-out portions(938A-938H) are oriented such that when a second base is mounted on theupper surface (924) of the first base (902), 6 of the circular cut-outportions (938A-938H) can be oriented in register with the protrudingbosses (936A-936F) of the lower base (904).

In use, a user removes the cover (922) as shown in FIG. 21, in order tocreate a container in which the base (904) is in an open position wherea user may view and remove items from the interior of the (904), asshown in FIG. 21. In this configuration, the upper surface (924) of thebase (904) is free from the cover (922), and the bosses (936A-936F)protruding therefrom are able to receive cut-out portions (938A-938H) ofa second base.

FIG. 22 illustrates a configuration in which a second base (1004) hasbeen securely mounted to the upper surface (924) of a first base (904),via 6 of the respective cut-out portions (938A-938H) of a second, upperbase (1004) cooperating with the protruding bosses (936A-936F) of thelower base (904). As shown in FIG. 21, in this configuration a user mayreview and remove items from the interior of both the lower base (904)and the upper base (1004). In an alternative configuration, the upperbase (1004) may be offset rearwardly when connecting it to the lowerbase (904), by utilising a different set of cut-out portions(938A-938H), such that the rear wall (1010) of the upper base (1004)protrudes and extends rearwardly from the rear wall (910) of the lowerbase (904), in a similar manner to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 15 and19 for example. In this configuration, the offset nature of the upperbase (104) means that the front wall (1006) of the upper base (1004) isoffset rearwardly with respect to the front wall (906) of the lower base(904), thereby creating a bigger gap through which a user may insert hisor her hand to get to the interior of the lower base (904).

In other embodiments, not shown, the various means to secure the variousbases and covers together in the open configurations may be changed toany suitable securement means such as different interlocking orfastening elements for example.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Manyvariations are possible without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A container comprising a base for storingand displaying one or more items, and a cover, wherein the container isconfigurable between a closed position in which the base is covered bythe cover and an open position in which at least one item is visible andremovable from the base, in use, wherein the base and cover eachcomprises front, rear and side walls, and at least one wall of the baseor cover includes a cut-out portion or slot, arranged in use to receiveat least one wall of the other of the cover or base, and wherein thecover overhangs or protrudes from the base when the cover is in the openposition and the wall of the cover or the base is received in thecut-out portion or slot of the base or the cover.
 2. The container asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the cover is fully detachable from the baseto move it from the closed position to the open position.
 3. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein a surface of the cover comprisesa further attachment point or area for detachably connecting a base of asecond container, in use.
 4. The container as claimed in claim 3 whereinthe surface comprises one or more protrusions extending upwardly,against which a wall of the base of the second container may abut, inuse.
 5. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base comprises afurther cut-out portion to assist a user in removing a item therefrom,in use, when the cover is in the open position and the further cut-outportion is at least partially concealed by or formed from the cover inthe closed position.
 6. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein thecover comprises substantially parallel pendent side walls extendingtherefrom, each wall having a shorter end and a longer end.
 7. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the base and the covercomprise attachment points or areas, which are configured to connecttogether, in use, in order to detachably connect the base to the cover.8. The container as claimed in claim 1 comprising one or more itemslocated in the base.
 9. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein thebase comprises an orientation structure that orients an item or itemslocated therein in a desired position.
 10. The container or display asclaimed in claim 9 comprising a pushing structure that pushes the oreach item towards an end of the base.
 11. A display comprising at leasta first container and a second container, wherein the first container isthe container as claimed in claim 1 and the second container is thecontainer as claimed in claim 1, the display comprising a first base ofthe first container and a cover in the open position, and a second baseof the second container mounted on a surface of the cover of the firstcontainer.
 12. The display as claimed in claim 11 comprising furthercovers and bases stacked on top of the second base.
 13. A method ofstacking a plurality of containers including at least a first containerand a second container, wherein the first container is the container asclaimed in claim 1 and the second container is the container as claimedin claim 1, the method comprising: a) providing at least first andsecond containers; b) moving the cover of the first container into theopen position such that it overhangs or protrudes from the base of thefirst container; and c) connecting the base of the second container on asurface of the cover of the first container.
 14. The display as claimedin claim 11 wherein the base comprises an orientation structure thatorients an item or items located therein in a desired position.
 15. Thedisplay as claimed in claim 14, prepared using the method of claim 13.